Gabriel Mascaro’s “The Blue Trail,” which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2025 Berlinale, will open the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa.

The Brazilian feature follows a 75-year-old woman whose journey through the Amazon becomes a manifesto on freedom and dignity.

The festival will close with Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s “A Useful Ghost,” winner of the Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize.

IFFI 2025 received a record 2,314 submissions from 127 countries. The program includes 13 world premieres, four international premieres and 46 Asian premieres, presenting more than 240 films from 81 countries.

The festival will screen 160 international titles, including over 80 award-winning films and 21 official Oscar-nominated works. Major titles on the slate include “It Was Just An Accident” (Palme d’Or, Cannes), “Father Mother Sister Brother” (Golden Lion, Venice), “Dreams (sex Love)” (Golden Bear, Berlin), “Sirât” (Grand Jury Prize, Cannes) and “The Message” (Silver Bear, Jury Prize, Berlin).

Japan takes center stage as the country focus, with six curated titles spanning intimate dramas, festival-winning psychological thrillers, queer narratives and experimental works that showcase both rising filmmakers and established auteurs. Spain will be featured as partner country, with Australia in the spotlight section.

The Gala Premieres segment will present 18 titles, including 13 world premieres, two Asia premieres, one India premiere and two special showcase screenings.

The Indian Panorama section will feature 25 feature films, 20 non-feature films and five debut features. Rajkumar Periyasamy’s Tamil-language “Amaran” will open the Indian Panorama feature section, while “Kakori” will launch the non-feature section.

More than 50 films directed by women will screen across the international section, with over 50 works from debut filmmakers reflecting the festival’s commitment to emerging voices. A new Best Debut Director of Indian Feature Film award carries a cash prize of INR500,000 ($6,000). The Best Web Series award, selected from 30 submissions, offers INR1 million ($12,000) to be shared among creators and producers.

IFFI 2025 will honor the centenaries of legendary Indian filmmakers including Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P. Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika and Salil Chowdhury with screenings of their masterworks.

The festival’s 21 masterclasses and panels will feature Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Anupam Kher, Christopher Charles Corbould, Bobby Deol, Aamir Khan, Ravi Varman, Kushboo Sundar, Suhasini Maniratnam, Pete Draper and Sreekar Prasad. Sessions will cover editing, acting in the digital era, sustainability, AI and VFX technologies.

The 19th edition of concurrent market Waves Film Bazaar will present over 300 film projects through its Screenwriters Lab, Market Screenings, Viewing Room Library and Co-Production Market. The Co-Production Market will feature 22 feature films and five documentaries competing for $20,000 in cash grants. This year’s Waves Film Bazaar Recommends section showcases 22 films representing 14 languages and four countries.

The Creative Minds of Tomorrow program received 799 entries this year, with 124 participants selected across 13 filmmaking crafts, including three new disciplines. The program includes a 48-hour filmmaking challenge in collaboration with ShortsTV.

Films and events will be hosted across five principal venues in Goa: Inox Panjim, Maquinez Palace, Inox Porvorim, Z-Square Samrat Ashok and Ravindra Bhavan Madgaon. Open-air screenings will take place at Miramar Beach, Ravindra Bhavan Fatorda and Anjuna Beach. All venues are equipped with accessibility measures including audio descriptions, sign language interpretation and multilingual dubbing.

The festival will present 15 competitive and curated segments, including International Competition, Best Debut Feature Film of a Director, ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal and special sections such as Macabre Dreams, Docu-Montage, Experimental Films, UNICEF and Restored Classics.

Founded in 1952, the International Film Festival of India is organized by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Government of Goa. The National Film Development Corporation, established in 1975, manages the Waves Film Bazaar, connecting Indian creators with global markets.

“IFFI 2025 marks a significant chapter as it embraces inclusivity and diversity, showcasing voices from all corners of the world while spotlighting Indian regional cinema’s rich tapestry,” said Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting. “By introducing programs focused on emerging filmmakers and digital storytelling, IFFI is nurturing platforms that champion new talent and celebrate the evolution of filmmaking in the digital age.”

L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, added: “This edition represents India’s unwavering commitment to cinema as a universal language that connects cultures and inspires creativity. With an expanded showcase of sustainable filmmaking and immersive experiences, IFFI reinforces our vision for India as a leader in film artistry and technological innovation.”

The 56th International Film Festival of India will run Nov. 20-28 in Goa.